For the Golden Halo: Julian of Norwich vs. Dietrich Bonhoeffer

We embarked upon this Lent Madness journey over five weeks ago on “Ash Thursday.” With your help we have narrowed the field of 32 saints down to just two: Julian of Norwich and Dietrich Bonhoeffer (who edged Sojourner Truth yesterday 52% to 48%). Who will win the coveted Golden Halo of Lent Madness 2016? Only 24 hours and your voting participation will reveal this holy mystery.

Regardless of the ultimate outcome, we’ve met some truly remarkable saintly folks along the way. Perhaps you learned about some saints you’d never heard of or maybe you renewed acquaintances with saints who have long offered inspiration. Of course the entire notion of placing saints in a bracket is absurd — each “contestant” has already earned a crown of righteousness in addition to a “golden halo.” But at the heart of Lent Madness is the abiding conviction that encountering those who have come before us in the faith enriches and enlivens our own walk with the risen Christ.

In the process of this whimsical Lenten devotion we’ve all made some new online friends, encountered a community of believers who take their faith but not themselves too seriously, learned a few things, were inspired by saintly witnesses, and had a lot fun along the way.

Of course we literally couldn’t have done this without our stellar Celebrity Bloggers to whom we offer sincere gratitude: Amber Belldene, Laurie Brock, Megan Castellan, Anna Fitch Courie, David Creech, Neva Rae Fox, David Hansen, Beth Lewis, Hugo Olaiz, Derek Olsen, and David Sibley. Thanks to Bracket Czar Adam Thomas for his unsung behind-the-scenes work in keeping the bracket updated daily — in his inimitable style. And to our Resident Foodie, Maria Nolletti Ross, whose recipes in the Saintly Scorecard and online helped keep the inevitable weekend Lent Madness Withdrawal at bay. You all rock! And we’re all grateful for your good writing, good humor, and adhering to most, if not all, of the SEC-imposed deadlines.

Finally, thanks to all of you who participated by voting, commenting, drinking coffee out of Lent Madness mugs, filling out brackets, talking about saints at coffee hour, submitting “mug shots,” liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter, and allowing us to play a small role in your Lenten journey. We’ve loved having each one of you along for the “madness” and on behalf of the Supreme Executive Committee we wish you a blessed Holy Week and a joyous Easter.

But enough gratitude. We have a Golden Halo to award! As with all the matchups, the polls will be open for 24 hours and the winner will be announced right here at 8:00 am Eastern Time on Maundy Thursday. At this point, everything about these two worthy saints has been said (though if you need some refreshers, click on the Bracket tab and scroll down). We have simply asked our two remaining celebrity bloggers, Amber Belldene (Julian of Norwich) and Beth Lewis (Dietrich Bonhoeffer) to provide us with one image and one quote.

The rest is up to you, the Lent Madness voting public. So go do your thing! And thanks for playing along this year — we’re delighted you joined us for the journey.

Julian of Norwich

“It appears to me that there is a deed that the Holy Trinity shall do on the last day…and how it shall be done is unknown to all creatures under Christ…This is the great deed ordained by our Lord God from eternity, treasured up and hidden in his blessed breast…and by this deed he shall make all things well.”

― Julian of Norwich

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

“There is no way to peace along the way of safety. For peace must be dared, it is itself the great venture and can never be safe. Peace is the opposite of security. To demand guarantees is to want to protect oneself. Peace means giving oneself completely to God’s commandment, wanting no security, but in faith and obedience laying the destiny of the nations in the hand of Almighty God, not trying to direct it for selfish purposes.”

― Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Julian of Norwich vs. Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (60%, 4,827 Votes)

Julian of Norwich (40%, 3,197 Votes)

Total Voters: 8,024

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Julian of Norwich window from St. George’s Church in Dayton, Ohio. http://www.stgeorgeohio.org/stainedglass/julian.htm

“Sir, we wish to see Jesus” (John 12:21). The philosopher Peter Sloterdijk writes that Western philosophy promotes “suspended animation”; that is, it practices death. And Christianity bears much blame for this, after Plato and Socrates, who upon his forced suicide said he “owed a cock to Asclepius” because death was the cure for life. Christians are ten times worse, promoting an anemic even masochistic bodily life on earth in preparation for “heaven.” Nietzsche imagines Christianity as a moral and intellectual syphilis, rotting out the cultural brain and sapping cultural virility. I think Christianity should meet the objections of the philosophers head on. How do we affirm human bodily existence? For me, having an incarnational theology means that I have the courage fully to live my embodied experience as it is happening and to speak it. My models are Bonhoeffer, whose witness surpasses anything I think I would ever have the courage to do, but whom I seek according to my strength to emulate, and Wilfred Bion, a British Object Relations psychoanalyst who wrote that the psychoanalyst’s task was to keep interpreting, despite pressure from either the general physician or the family for a “cure.” In an incarnational theology, we do NOT owe Asclepius a cock for dying. We get to live while we live and tell others our story. That’s my Resurrection. What is yours?

Thanks, Beth, for the link to Fr. Matthews’ sermon. It is wonderful and encapsulates much of what I love about the Episcopal Church. I’m sorry to see Lent Madness end. So many thoughtful discussions. I’ve learned so much and had so much fun as well! Happy Easter everyone!

“Whiskeypalians”! I had never heard that. I HAVE heard: “Wherever there are four Episcopalians, there’s a fifth.”
What a great sermon. Thank you, Beth, for the link.
A toast! to the dignity of every human being.
And because the deacons among us have been a revelation to me–I can’t admire you enough, you guys are like nuns or something!–a toast to deacons.
To all of you, I will miss you. Have a great Easter. May you flourish. A toast to the coming year and all our journeys hence and back again. As Julian said: All will be well. (A toast to Julian!)

Yes, here’s to Julian! Although I have to admit– this quote from Bonhoeffer is so beautiful I was almost swayed. I keep having to remind myself, the fact that the voting keeps getting so much harder means we’ve voted well up to this point. Happy Easter, everyone!

I was planning to vote for Julian but the Bonhoeffer quote did sway me. I had to vote for him in memory of my father because it made me think of Dad, a pacifist, conscientious objector and vegetarian before any of those things were acceptable, let alone “cool”.

St. Celia, well said. Jesus wouldn’t recognize the way the west has interpreted his path. Fr. Richard Rohr has said that the Incarnation is really the only thing new that Christianity has to offer the world. We however, much prefer to worship Jesus than to walk the Christ path. D.B. has my vote as a truly modern witness and model for the Incarnational Life.

As I shed I tear, I want to Thank ALL of you for enlightening my life during this Lenten season.
I have laughed. I have learned. I have grown in so many ways.
My ‘God Spark’ will burn brighter and longer because this experience has changed my relationship with God and Christ forever.
May the Grace of Gods, Love, Peace and understanding be with you always.
Till we meet again.❤️

My vote is for Julian since being somewhat of an everyday Jesus-in-your-cereal mystic is normal for me. I relate to her connection with an inner sacredness thought DB is a hero, for certain. I want to live my daily life as a prayer and wash my sacred dishes, make my sacred beds, scoop my sacred kitty litter, etc. In truth I would call this a tie vote if I could do so since one heard the inner call clearly and the other lived that inner call. Very hard choice!

Lea, I was not familiar with Julian when I began participating in Lent Madness. Her works are definitely on my “must read” list now. And I appreciated your comment about washing your sacred dishes and scooping your sacred kitty litter. As someone who hates housework, I would love to learn to see the sacred in daily/weekly chores. Sadly, I have barely begun and don’t seem to be making much headway in adjusting my thinking (or in getting the work done).

Nevertheless, my vote went to the amazing 20th century martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer. We are living in an age in which that level of courage is needed by Christians in the Middle East and in which it soon may be essential for all of us. These two saints are two sides of the same coin, though, as I suspect that it is only trusting that “all shall be well” that enabled Bonhoeffer and all of the other Christian martyrs to stand fast to the end.

> As someone who hates housework, I would love to learn to see the sacred in daily/weekly chores. Sadly, I have barely begun and don’t seem to be making much headway in adjusting my thinking (or in getting the work done).

I have found helpful the monastic tradition (Benedictine I think?) that directs a life of prayer and manual labor, ora et labora, keeping your hands productively busy while you pray. Like walking a labyrinth, the manual labor of chores and housework and yardwork can keep the front of my mind just occupied enough that the back of my mind doesn’t get caught up in distractions. And I always ask St Benedict and his sister St Scholastica for help!

I don’t actually do this very often… but now I am inspired to make this part of my Good Friday observance this year. So thanks for your comment!

Oliver, all through this Lent I’ve been benefiting from your comments. Reading what you have to say reminds me of something I read in the Bible:

One day when Jesus was on earth, some children were praising Him for healing sick people. The authorities were angry that the children were praising Jesus so highly. But Jesus reminded the authorities of Psalm 8, verse 2, which says that God causes perfect praise to come out of the mouths of children and babies. (This is written in the Gospel according to Matthew, chapter 21, verses 14-16.)

Thank you very much indeed for your Lent Madness comments. I hope That next year I’ll be reading comments from Oliver nine years old.

Lea, I was not familiar with Julian when I began participating in Lent Madness. Her works are definitely on my “must read” list now. And I appreciated your comment about washing your sacred dishes and scooping your sacred kitty litter. As someone who hates housework, I would love to learn to see the sacred in daily/weekly chores. Sadly, I have barely begun and don’t seem to be making much headway in adjusting my thinking (or in getting the work done).

Nevertheless, my vote went to the amazing 20th century martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer. We are living in an age in which that level of courage is needed by Christians in the Middle East and in which it soon may be essential for all of us. These two saints are two sides of the same coin, though, as I suspect that it is only trusting that “all shall be well” that enabled Bonhoeffer and all of the other Christian martyrs to stand fast to the end.

Thanks for your comments throughout Lent Madness. Although I don’t always vote the way you do, I like reading your reasons for your vote. I appreciate the fact that your reasons always make sense. I think you are probably the youngest person taking part in Lent Madness this year. I hope you learned a lot and had fun and I especially hope that you will take part in Lent Madness next year! Have a blessed Holy Week!

When I first saw the 2016 bracket, I figured the “Golden Halo round” would be between Constance and Dietrich Bonhoeffer (and I truly was torn about for whom I’d eventually vote). Both of them gave their lives for others, and (for me) are truly role models for how we might be called to address today’s challenging world. So, since Constance earlier lost her round, my vote today will be for Dietrich! We might be called to emulate his sacrifice. What a saint for our time!

This was so tough for me! I have always loved Julian and I feel such a closeness to her. But Dietrich really suffered at the hands of the Nazi’s and was so courageous. he could have stayed in America but he chose to go back and face evil. Bravo to you both. But I had to vote for Dietrich. Sorry Julian. I love you too

Amen to your comments. Some of us are called to speak out, and some of us are still struggling to speak up. But we are all called to prayer in these troubled times. I need Julian’s assurance that all shall be well. And in memory of Barbara, a devoted follower of Julian, I will vote for her. And I give thanks for all who call us to stand against violence and oppression.

This has been an amazing and educational journey for me. Coming from “down-under”, I didn’t know of some of the saints like Constance so thanks for educating me more. Wishing all a blessed and holy week and a joyful Easter Day(which we start with a fish breakfast!)

Thanks to all (the SEC, the bloggers, Forward Movement, and all of the commenters) who’ve made this such a fun and informative Lenten discipline for me. Now I must find another way to start my morning. I will definitely have Lent Madness Withdrawal!

As the spread of terror continues unabated, and death follows death across the Middle East and Europe, I read the quote of Bonhoeffer and contrasted it with the response of so many world leaders which focus on security rather than on the seeking of peace through justice and so was moved to vote for him. We need his wisdom to inform our lives today, and we also need to hod on to the words of Julian, that in all the troubles and sorrows of the world, God is at work and one day all will be well.
Thank you all for another inspiring and informative year.

Yes, Fiona, yes. Your summation brought me to tears this morning. When I realized yesterday that the decision today would be between Dietrich and Julian–my two go-to people of the faith–I thought I would never be able to decide. But last night, I sat at my kitchen table and reread all the LM comments, and the news of the tragedy in Brussels played on the television behind me, and the choice became clear. Dietrich is the saint for us now to stand firm in the faith, firm for the Christ who is with us in days of fear and violence. I don’t know which frightens me more–the threat of a bomb at the airport, or the spectre of totalitariansm here at home. But, as Julian says, too … ASBW.

DEEPEST THANKS TO TIM AND SCOTT, ALL THE CBs, AND THE ENTIRE LENT MADNESS GLOBAL VIEWING PUBLIC!

Ditto. Thank you, Fiona and the 2 Susans.
We need both types of faith in this world today. I voted for Bonhoeffer because of his modern example, but Julian’s vision gives me great comfort.
Thank you for another fun season of Lent Madness!

Thank you all for your thoughtful and prayerful contributions to my Lenten journey. Oliver to St. Celia and all, you have enriched my experience. To the SEC, your humor and devotion helped us all deepen our faith. I am filled with gratitude.

I was so tempted by the cat at the bottom of Julian’s picture! But I voted for Dietrich–in light of the terrorist bombings in Brussels and parts of the world that don’t make headlines within this lent he is the saint for this time. His words on the true meaning of peace ring true. Julian will wear her silver halo with humility, dignity and grace.

Betsy:
My thoughts exactly! Thank you to the SEC (long may they reign) and the wonderful Bloggers whose words and images brought alive each and every glorious Saint. And deepest thanks to all those who shared their insight and experiences, from Oliver to Deacon Nicholson and everyone in between. You have made this Lent a spiritually uplifting (and very fun) walk to Easter. Blessings to you all for a glorious Easter and see you all again next Lent! AWBW.

Nine votes apart at present, in this, the Be Careful What You Wish For Round. I wanted them both to come back to the Madness and win. So here we are, and how do I choose? An image came to me of Lady Julian offering an achoring rope stretching across the centuries, to which Dietrich could hold on. Hale and halos to all, and thanks for a deeply meaningful stay in this Lenten community.

While I’ve followed Lent Madness every year, this is the first I’ve opted for daily emails. Beginning each day with a reflection over my cup of coffee has really enriched this Lenten season. Now this morning, the end of the madness with a match up of two saints that even the staunchest atheist would be hard pressed to find flaw in the strength of their faith. I voted for Dietrich Bonhoeffer because like me, he is a product of the modern era and his unshakeable relationship to God inspires me to continue every day to seek and work to build the Kingdom of God in my little patch of earth.

My wish for today is that the Spirit of Dietrich Bonhoeffer were alive in a couple of our candidates running for president.Obviously, neither Donald Trump nor Ted Cruz ever heard of Dietrich let alone read his books. A real shame. Thank you for your presence on earth Dietrich. Rest in peace in the arms of our Lord.

Thank you, SEC and CB’ s, for another wonderful season. I am a big fan of Julian, but voted for Boenhoffer today based on the quote – even at a personal level, which is where it has to start anyway, peace is risky business.

While still mourning the earlier loss of Constance, I have to go for the saint that was in the world and of it- not one who retreated to immerse herself in prayer. Bonhoeffer more closely followed the path Christ showed us, in my opinion.

I thought I would vote for Lady Julian, being a Norfolk (UK) girl and also, wanting a golden halo winner who would embody the mystic. (I voted Lady J and DB all the way through). Also, I often think there is a danger that we just become Christian social workers, rather than Christians. But in the end, DB got my vote for his Christian courage, the like of which I could never have.

No question about it. I was rooting for Bonhoeffer from the start. (Well, and Columba, too…) I subscribe to the “doers” of the world, those who went out into a unfriendly dangerous world and “dared” to bring peace. Mystics seem a bit self-absorbed and really, the cat thing is creepy…

Great appreciation to all who participated in this revealing Lenten journey. I learned from CBs, SEC, and commenters. What a blessing.

Couldn’t read DB’s quote out loud without some tears. He speaks to me right here in my heart, right now in our times. Praying for peace and not selfish security, praying for courage to act and speak for peace.

HUGE THANKS to ALL involved for another transcendent Lent Madness journey. as profoundly guided and inspired as i am by Bonhoeffer, my vote did, does and will always go to Julian. why? her words explain it better than i ever could, ” I was answered in spiritual understanding, and it was said: What, do you wish to know your Lord’s meaning in this thing? Know it well, love was his meaning. Who reveals it to you? Love. What did he reveal you? Love. Why does he reveal it to you? For Love…. So I was taught that love is our Lord’s meaning.”
or as our very ‘out in the world’ PB Michael Curry paraphrased this revelation from Julian, ” If it’s not about Love, it’s not about God.”

Thanks for the cool lent thoughtfulness, prayerfulness and fun! Laughter is essential to the other two i think And on the last day, in the midst of a tough world (add the newest climate change report to the list of scary), we seem to have voices of the essential balance that we need to get through. As Tolkien said,”Good can’t win simply because it is good.” The struggle somehow seems to be essential and Julian and Dietrich have the balances lived out for all of us to see. I love DB, studied him in school and he widened the landscape of my soul; I love Julian and read her first decades ago and she deepened the landscape of my soul. Today at the last minute, and because of how the quote SO fits the day, I vote for Dietrich Bonhoeffer. And I’ll invoke and lean on them both (and all the other holy dudes of the season) today, and al the todays leading towards that great ‘all will be well.”

Thank you to all of you for your comments this Lent Madness season. You have added to my knowledge by your insightful comments, your wit, your convictions and have made this particular bracket come alive. I’ve tried to read all the comments before I vote each day and your reasoning has influenced many a decision. How amazing and proud I am to be a part of this world-wide communion! Like some of you, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was my early-on choice for the Golden Choice. But to get to this point has opened my eyes to many other saints not in “Holy Women, Holy Men”. Thank you Tim and Scott for outstanding brackets year after year! I’m not looking forward to Lenten Withdrawal…

I adore Julian of Norwich and have voted for her throughout the process. Her emphasis on reverencing Christ’s suffering while admiring God’s maternal, everlasting love are incredibly holy. Today, of all days, I vote for Bonhoeffer. To me, his words about setting aside security for peace continue to resonate for Christians around Europe and the World. What steps shall we defiantly take to overcome evil and secure peace for all of humanity, especially the outcast and the demonized? If it were me, I would vote for both saints with the hopes that their collaborative gifts would prompt us to contemplate more about God’s love and then proactively share it with the world in risky ways.

On this day shortly after terrorist have again attacked, murdered and stoked fear, anger and enmity between people’s of different religions and nationalities; in these days when we have an entire American political party that has dedicated itself to blocking and demeaning a man of civility and faith, our first black president and his family, and that has lifted up as its candidates to become President of the United States two men whose every utterance promotes racism, nationalism, hate and enmity and whose every strategy follows in the tradition of despots, there can be no better choice than Dietrich Bonhoeffer who dedicated his life and his faith to giving all in the struggle for peace.

As a first time Lent Madness follower and participant, what an awesome experience. I’ve learned so much more about those who have gone before us while enjoying the kibitzing of others of faith Including the Supreme Executive Committee. I’ll look forward to next year’s Madness while sharing the experience with others. Tough final choice…..tho Julian prevails.

Thank you for another enjoyable Lent Madness. In these uncertain times I voted for DB. He was willing to give his life for his beliefs and to quote another, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” This is never more true than today. May Peace be with you.

Tough choice – as it was bound to be! Voted for Julian in the end. I think there is some misunderstanding about mystics. To my eye they do not withdraw from the world but rather engage in it more deeply. While Julian lived as a hermit, the world came to her for advice and direction, and she faced her own challenges in body, mind and spirit.

Thank you, Hilary ! Prayer is not for nothing. Spiritual advising is not for nothing. Both saints-of-the-day were known for these. Political intrigue is added to Bonhoeffer credit . Prayer, I think, has to be most important (if there’s such a ranking). Just this week, a priest in our diocese asked for prayer for his untreatable, progressive illness . The following day he reported feeling , not only physical improvement, but also, a great spiritual uplifting. He stated he had not felt so well in years. Perhaps some people laid hands on Fr. Ed, but many other people were miles away. Sometimes we can only stand in wonder at the awesome God. His love. His power. His presence.

…among other things, she notes drily. Agree with your assessment, though.
Bonhoeffer’s life to me asks the question ‘what are we being called to do here and now?’ He has lost votes in previous contests for his willingness to contemplate a violent act in response to the woundedness around him. Not today – because we’re feeling the wound? Julian contemplates the wounds of Jesus and the woundedness around her and presents a pastoral and reassuring long view of a loving God to people who need to hear it.
Both matter: responsible action based on courage of convictions, and prayerful, pastoral response to the people around us.

Thank you all for another fantastic Lenten journey. To have this, to learn and put each one of our own journeys in the context of these great people is beyond words wonderful! Tim, Scott and all the bloggers are to be given their own sort of golden haloes. All will be well!

I am deeply saddened that Sojourner did not make it to the Halo round. But Beth Lewis’s write-up for Dietrich in the Final Four was prescient and I believe that’s what put him over the top. I love Julian, but I think Dietrich’s example has so much to teach us in our own troubled times. May we be still and hear. Then may we act.

This has been a challenging LM for me. I don’t follow the crowd in my choices so saw many favorites fall. My heart belonged to the “son of encouragement” and then to Constance, whose story I did not know.
DB will be a noble winner in a troubling year.

I vote for the Bonhoeffer beer stein! Truly he was an inspiration and he got my vote. Thank you to all that worked to bring Lent Madness to us another year. I look forward to it each year as part of my Lenten practices. Kudos to another great year!

Very grateful for Lent Madness, even though my bracket was busted the first day and I really thought Sojourner Truth would win the Golden Halo. So close and yet so far. Thanks for the great job, celebrity bloggers and SEC. Blessings to all. Still not sure who to vote for today.

This is a really hard choice. I have read and studied Julian for many years. She has led me to a deeper place of sprituality in difficult time . That said, Bonhoeffer’s example of standing up for Christian faith in the times of trial makes him makes him a true hero for all people of faith.

Lent Madness is a wonderful Lenten practice which is so Episcopalaen. Instead of the “lesser of two evil” choices our political world often serves up, we are allowed to figure our in near impossible match ups like this the “better of two goods.” A truly saintful effort. I had picked Julian from day one to win this, but Bonhoeffer’s example and ultimate sacrifice in the face of evil incarnate on this planent is truly hard to match. Both lived a life which did much good. Whatever the outcome all will be well with this match up.

Although I have been aware of Lent Madness since its inception, this is the first year I participated. Thank you to everyone involved in any way–you have truly enriched my Lenten path this year. Great way to start each day, and a welcome distraction from work as I checked the voting throughout the day.

Spy Wednesday. What could be better than voting for a secret agent and would-be assassin who also happened to be a Lutheran pastor and professor? But seriously…while both these saints are precious to me, Bonhoeffer seems to speak most urgently to today’s challenges. He gets my vote, while I also hold close the promise that God will make all things well.

Once, a very long time ago, Julian’s words (“All will be well. All manner of thing will be well”) came to me when I was seriously ill with cancer and very afraid. It was only later that I found out whose words those were. At the time, I didn’t know anything about Julian of Norwich. Those words brought me great peace and marked the beginning of my faith journey as an adult. They have continued to sustain me on that road.So I voted for her.

But if Dietrich wins the Golden Halo instead, I will rejoice, too–we certainly need more people with his brand of courage, willing to speak truth to power, willing to put their very lives on the line as he did. For me, the outcome today is a win/win situation. I do hope that the Lentorium will provide items for each of these saints (maybe a beer stein for DB?)

Thanks, SEC, celebrity bloggers and Forward Movement, for giving us another wonderful season of saints!

It has been interesting to watch this year. I think there is a slant away from the ancient and towards the more modern in the voting. Not sure what the explanation might be. Voting for Julian today, in part because her legacy is more lasting and more impactful.

In honor of my mom, who has an icon of Julian In her bedroom, I voted for Julian. But honestly, given my father’s proclivity for Dietrich, this could have gone either way. Still, let’s bring it home for Julian, eh? It feels meet and right so to do.

I busted my own bracket twice this season — this time I picked Julian for the win back in February, but voted for Dietrich twice, incl today. I always revere Bonhoffer, but I have no doubt that current events in the US are coloring my decision. I wish so much that I could put my faith in Julian’s words, “All manner of things will be well.”

This is my first LM and I am grateful for the experiece. I have truly loved the excellent writing of the Celebrity Bloggers. I send a special shout out to Anna Fitch Courie for her insights. I voted for Dietrich today as he modeled the type of courage that we need in the world today.

For our fifth grade class, this was a difficult choice. Julian of Norwich won by 1 vote! The “Bonehoefferoinians” were really bummed:( and the “Julianites” rejoiced:)
We know however, both saints deserve the G.H. and will be content with whomever wins:)
After all, we are ALL called to be saints!

I have “feared” for a while now that the final round would come down to this! I am SO tempted to defy the SEC and find a way to surreptitiously vote for both of these “contestants.” (No, Tim and Scott, I will NOT do that!) I have not peeked at the results so far, but suspect this will be a very close round. I have also not read all the comments preceding mine, so if someone else has already suggested this, my apologies; but I urge the SEC to consider, for the second time in LM history, a silver halo for whichever of these candidates garners fewer votes today, as I believe that both of these saints are worthy of the gold!

I agree that the final statements from these two saints complement each other, and that there should be a silver halo awarded this year. I voted for Bonhoeffer in honor of my best teachers of the Christian faith, who taught me that faith and reason are complementary, but who never taught me that faith is safe.
Many thanks to everyone at LM for the happiest Lent ever!

One huge learning from this year’s LM: I’ve not been able to sign up to receive posts via my iPad. It has only worked when I do so through my laptop. Not a very profound learning, mind you, but quite important to me for the future!

Until I discovered Lent Madness last year, I never thought I would feel Easter could come too soon. What a joy and inspiration Lent Madness has been. Thank you Tim, Scott, celebrity bloggers, George T. Dog (the secret mastermind behind all the madness), and especially all who commented. A very hard vote. Whether Dietrich wins or comes in second, I hope the SEC will consider a beer mug or, better, a stein for him. Us sinners can use only so many coffee mugs.

So it has come down to this. From my fist look at the Bracket at the start, Julian and Bonhoeffer were the two names that stood out for me, because both have had such a formative impact on my life — Bonhoeffer for 45 years, Julian for perhaps 35. I hoped they would be the final two, yet now I have to choose between. Because of how his witness speaks to the present moment in our public life — the rise of fascist-like politics in this US; violence in the name of God throughout the world — Blessed Dietrich gets my vote today. But if Dame Julian wins, I will be happy also.

Way back before Ash Thursday and the first vote, I printed out a bracket and went my merry way through Lent ahead of time to come to this day when it would be Julian of Norwich and her hazelnut for the win. There have been a few surprise votes along the way that bent my bracket, but today I broke my own bracket by voting for Dietrich and the Cost of Discipleship. In the present world, I need Dietrich. We all need Dietrich. All shall be well, but it will cost us. Cheap grace is no grace at all. May we all find Dietrich’s courage.

Thank you all so very much for your dedication to Lent Madness – Tim, Scott, Celebrity Bloggers (who did a spectacular job), and all the behind-the-scenes folk who make it happen. This is only my second year, but I plan to keep it as part of my Lenten discipline – though it’s hard to think of something this educational and fun as a “discipline”!

I’ve stayed faithful to Bonhoeffer throughout, and so it is today. I’ve always loved Julian, and were our political climate different, I could easily have voted for her and been happy about it. But Bonhoeffer’s life and death seem especially poignant right now.

The Church is blessed to have the witness of these two saints; but my Sabbatical last year including exploration/pilgrimage to some Bonhoeffer sites (Finkenwald; his parents’ Berlin home), he must get my vote

This is a very hard vote today – but we all knew when we came down to the final two, it would be. I agree with many, that the final quote from Bonhoeffer made this a bit easier for me. I went with Dietrich. Thank you to the SEC and all the many others who helped to make this a very interesting and fun “Lent Madness” this year. Already I am looking forward to next year and thinking of the Saints that I will nominate for the 2017 brackets.

Thank you for a wonderful roster of lives well lived. I have been for Julian from the beginning, but with tears in my eyes after reading the final Bonhoeffer quote had to cast my vote with him; his is the witness for this moment. Perhaps three times will be the charm for Julian. A blessed Holy Week and Easter to all.

Both of these people mean so much to me. I have used Julian’s famous quote (“……all manner of thing shall be well.”) to help me through many difficult times in my life. Just saying the words brings me comfort and peace when I am in turmoil. And Bonhoeffer’s example of costly discipleship, even unto death, has always given me strength to endure during trying times. At this moment in our history, Bonhoeffer’s clear message rings loud and clear; a warning to us from past. They are both “winners.” We are lucky to have such people as examples to emulate.

“And from that time that it was shewed I desired oftentimes to learn what was our Lord’s meaning. And fifteen years after, and more, I was answered in ghostly understanding, saying thus: Wouldst thou learn thy Lord’s meaning in this thing? Learn it well: Love was His meaning. Who shewed it thee? Love. What shewed He thee? Love. Wherefore shewed it He? For Love. Hold thee therein and thou shalt learn and know more in the same. But thou shalt never know nor learn therein other thing without end. Thus was I learned that Love was our Lord’s meaning.”

Happy Spy Wednesday! Both of these saints speak to me but of course, we’re down to the end and must choose. Julian of Norwich. What a delightful, fun-filled and informative Lenten season, and I am sorry to see it end.

Two of my favorite saints…so hard to choose today. Have travelled with both of these fellow believers at different times in my life, so either way my team wins. Today my vote is with Dietrich, but my heart is with Julian.Blessings to all. I will miss you. Until next year.

This has been a Lent Madness season of tough choices… Maddeningly tough choices at times! The good news is that with tough choices, I couldn’t be upset with the outcome! And thus it is on this final round… Though I voted for Julian, I will be satisfied should Dietrich Bonhoeffer prevail. All shall be well, whichever one wears the halo.

“There is no way to peace along the way of safety.” I hope that Dietrich Bonhoeffer is awarded the GOLDEN HALO for the 2016 LENT MADNESS, but if Julian wins, there really is no loss. What is most impressive this year is the sheer number of children and youth who have sincerely and seriously been involved, especially our friend Oliver-eight years old. Thanks always to our Padres and Bloggers who have outdone themselves this year in helping us all to learn more and love more to the glory of God this Easter season.

I have read all the comments and my tears threaten to fall. These are 2 saints I spent the most time with, that have had an impact on my spiritual and Christian life. I’ve voted for each through all their brackets and now it comes down to having to choose between them…it’s like when you’re asked which child you love most-I love them both equally. But because of what’s happened in Brussels this week and what is happening in the political campaigns in the States, I think I have to go with Dietrich today, though it breaks my heart. But all things shall be well, as we work together towards peace in our time. Thank you for a wonderfully challenging Lenten season-can’t wait for next year!

My Lent Madness bracket had these two going for the Golden Halo from the beginning…and now that we’re here, I still can’t easily pick between these two. I’d predicted that Julian would win it all, but in light of yesterday’s attacks in Belgium, I have to go with Dietrich: “For peace must be dared…”

How could I not vote for a person who displayed “no greater love”? How could I not vote for such a great Lutheran Christian? How could I not vote on Spy Wednesday for one who was a spy for Christ – working in German military intelligence as a mole to help Jewish believers escape the Holocaust? How could I not vote to help celebrate Lutheran (ELCA) full communion with the Episcopal Church? So, I voted for Dietrich Bonhoeffer. It looks like he just might do what old Marty could not – wear the coveted Golden Halo. Thanks to SEC, all the bloggers, and participants for helping to enrich my Lent.

The peace quote was timely. The final hour quote was kinda trite. Getting through Colossians in EfM, I was drawn to Col 3:15, in the context of a Dilemma-based TR discussion. Peace — whatever it meant to Paul, and perhaps to Deitrich — brings us toward where we ought be, in a community of love. To hear DB say it’s not the avoidance of conflict, but the sense that things have fallen into place — a sense gained only through courageous action — really hits home. DB4GH!!

“…a community of believers who take their faith but not themselves too seriously” What a great summary of what Lent Madness is all about. I add my thanks to the many already expressed to the SEC, the CB’s, all the folks who choose to comment, and everybody behind the scenes that we are scarcely aware of. This was my second Lent Madness, and I hope to continue participating for many years to come. I already can’t wait for November and the new bracket!

For all his courage, clarity, and gifts, Dietrich Bonhoeffer still chose to align with violence, chose to be part of a plot to murder Hitler. I find that problematic, since I follow the path of someone whom good religious people thought it was expedient to have killed. Too often I have seen people try to solve a problem through getting rid another person, whether by the violence of murder or the violence of shaming, scapegoating, or shunning. The problem doesn’t go away and a martyr is created, larger than life. Neo-Nazis are not an accident of history, but a product born out of violence. Bonhoeffer had not listened to Jesus primary teaching and example. It is not a teaching that is popular and there are always reasons to explain it away, rationalize not following it. But it remains Jesus’ primary teaching and example.

Julian looks squarely into the face of evil, injustice, political and religious corruption, and death and heard the voice of Jesus say “all will be well”.

Well said. You have put words to uneasy feelings I could not articulate. While we are called to be in the world, we are not of this world, when we walk in the Spirit. Forego safety for peace, I pray I can. To oppose evil by force only reinforces the perceived value of force. As we are in Holy Week, let us remember Jesus healing the guard whom Peter struck with his sword. “Thus said Jesus, put back your sword, for all who live by the sword shall perish by the sword.” (Matthew 26:52)

From my reading of a few sources, it’s not at all clear that DB was involved in the plot to kill Hitler. He certainly knew and worked in the resistance with some of those who were, but he was, by the mid 1930s, an advocate of pacifism and nothing in his writing after that suggests otherwise. He was arrested for trying to save the lives of a considerable number of Jews and was incarcerated well before the attempt. His association with some of the conspirators certainly helped to speed his execution but it is both unclear and unlikely that he was actively involved in the July 20th plot. Who knows what he said to his friends (and his brother-in-law), but i think to condemn him for something for which there is no real evidence and which is counter to all that he wrote and said at any point after 1933 is problematic.

Vicki, I so hope that DB’s reputation as a would-be assassin is undeserved. To be willing to kill another human being is certainly inconsistent with what he stood for. Until this year’s Lent Madness, I had never heard anyone contest the story of Bonhoeffer’s involvement in the July 20th plot. I will now have to do some deeper reading into this.

Hi Harlie,
Good luck in your research. It was years (and years) ago that i did some of mine when i was doing my honors thesis in Religious Studies at UVA. My paper was about that the fact that ‘a just war theory’ was inconsistent with the Gospel. I wanted to use Bonhoeffer as one of my modern voices, but I was concerned about the Hitler plot, since it seemed to go counter to all his writing from 1933 forward. And then i started reading both the actual ‘evidence’ and also the writing of voices (some of whom knew him) pointing out many of the problems with the inditement. It was most likely guilt by association and an ‘easy’ way to execute him – he was imprisoned in the spring of ’43 and the attempt wasn’t until July of the following year. He was a thorn in the Nazi side, guards were smuggling some of his papers out of prison, he was a powerful moral voice, he had been in the underground, and had helped Jews and family members escape. I suspect that for those who feel that killing is sometimes ok (the ends justifies the means argument) in the face of moral evil, DB’s legend as one who finally gave into that idea gives them what they feel is support. I, on the other hand, still think that the evidence leans more to a Gandhi – Dr. King approach on Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s part. With acknowledgement of the controversy, i used him in that paper and continue to believe – even more strongly than i did in 1979 – that killing to end killing or to punish is not consistent with the Gospel. I know some people who disagree with me and the debate continues. Have a joyful Easter Harlie, and as i said have fun in your research.

I voted for Bonhoeffer today because he is truly a saint for our times and is an inspiration to me as I watch events unfold in our country and the world. I have however been inspired to seek out the writings of Julian of Norwich so I guess the real winner in this contest is me and wasn’t that the point.

I think the writers did a fantastic job this year as the SEC said in renewing our relationships with saints we are fond of and those formerly unknown. Today’s quote from Bonhoeffer was spot on and is almost more true today than it was when he said it.

As profound as the writings of Bonhoeffer are and life in general, I just can’t bring myself to vote for him because of his involvement in the assassination attempt of Hitler. Bonhoeffer died because of the failed attempt when his role became clear. This probably sounds like a pro-Hitler position but I can’t see Joseph involving himself in a plot to kill Herod or Jesus, Caesar.

Thanks to all that have contributed to this Lenten journey. My first Lenten Madness & very thoughtful & informative along with being fun. My vote went to Julian today but either way we all win knowing more about theses saints. In truth I am in awe of DB courage. My belief has always been that those of us that came after the Nazi era could not really understand the evil of that time. DB’s life & death can give us some of that understanding & what we see in our own world today. May the Lord be with all of us as we walk through this Holy Week.

I see I’m not the only one inclined to tears this morning. Bonhoeffer’s words are sobering, and necessary, and relevant to the global challenges we face today. But for me, it is Julian’s stirring vision of hope that gives me the courage to take on Bonhoeffer’s challenge and truly put my trust in God.
The cat helps, too.

Adding my thanks to not only the makers and shakers at Lent Madness, but also to all you Holy Commenters. I’ve found it very powerful to hear your voices, and remember there is a worldwide community keeping Lent, and seeking to grow more deeply into Christ, together. A very blessed Holy Week and Easter to you all.

This year, at the age of 78, I have been unable to attend church at all. I had foot surgery on Jan. 11, and the deepest incisions got infected, creating wounds that have not yet closed. Last week I developed phlebitis in the veins above the ankle. With all the pain, and more solitude than even I want, Lent Madness has been a spiritual life-saver (increasing my life-savor!) this year. I have missed the community of my “home church” but you all have helped to fill the void. For all your work, I thank the staff; for your companionship, your insights, and your humor, I thank the commentators; and I look forward to seeing you online again next year. I thank God for the witness of our two Golden Halo saints. I shall send Dietrich’s quote to many of my extended family, but I shall vote for Lady Julian who is teaching me patience and serenity, and reminding me that I can still do some of the work God has called me to with those who call, visit, or email. God bless us every one!

Julian & Eckhart, her supporter & fellow mystic, were my initial choices for the Golden Halo. Dietrich was next. The outstanding bloggers swayed my final votes. Thanks to all. I enjoyed the factual information and the insight and sense of humor in many comments.

Again, two of my favorite holy people. Which to choose? Blessed Julian for her wisdom, or Holy Dietrich for his courage? With great respect to Oliver I must however choose Dietrich, praying for a daily drop of his fortitude.

I don’t know why, but I am in tears over this…I know it is all in good fun, but to have these two at the last is just too much. Maybe because we are at the end, and I hate to see Lent Madness over. Or maybe its just feeling the weight of the days ahead. Golden Halo today, the cross and an empty tomb ahead…

Bonhoeffer, a saint for our time. Julian, a saint for ALL time. All shall be well in the end! So thrilled I discovered Lent Madness. Best Lenten devotional ever! Peace to all and a blessed Easter season.

The quote from Julian has helped me get through many difficult times. May it continue to do so.
Thanks to Tim, Scott, et. al. for providing the framework for this marvelous Lenten discipline. And as an aside, I have really enjoyed reading Scott’s devotions in Forward Day by Day this March. Will be waiting for LM 2017.

No matter who he is up against, I will always vote for Dietrich Bonhoffer. I admire a man who, despite the fact that he was in danger, continued to follow the way of the cross. I’m not nearly as brave as he was, but I like to think that in a similar situation I might become strong.

I am just a simple person. I am just a simple Christian. Herr Bonhoeffer faced almost certain and possibly an excruciating death at the hands of the Nazis to save souls. Does this act of returning to Germany not emulate the life of our Lord, Jesus Christ?

I was all set to vote for Dietrich Bonhoeffer this m0rning. Reading through the comments, I saw Julian of Norwich’s phrase All Shall Be Well. I needed to be reminded of that, especially after yesterday when I received some not so good news. Many years ago, a friend gave me a smooth white stone with a purple spiral & the words “All shall be well” painted on the stone. I hold this stone in my hand when I need a reminder that God is always with me. So today I voted for Julian & all shall be well.

I’m almost fresh out of comments this morning. All I can say is that a vote for one is not a vote against the other. Well played, everyone! I will return to my house and ponder these things in my heart. May God in his mercy bring us to the joy of Resurrection.

This was my second year of following lent madness. It was quite enjoyable and informative. I can’t believe it is almost over. I will have LMW for an entire year! Oliver- I really enjoyed your comments and look forward to reading them next year when you are 9!

I do believe the bombings in Brussels tipped the scale in favour of Dietrich but it would have been a tough choice even without that. The world needs both kinds.
My thanks to all who work on providing this remarkable lenten exercise. My parish – I don’t know how many actually participate – showed a lot of interest in the progress through the weeks. And on behalf of our “team” I thank the SEC for our Runner Up to Oliver in the Mug photo contest. We all agreed we couldn’t have lost to a better choice. Congratulations again, Oliver. I look forward to seeing your insights next year.

Given rise of fascism in our nation this has to be a Bonheoffer year for me … but I can think of no better “running mate” on the final Lent Madness Ticket 2016 than the woman who reminds us that — no matter what — all will be well.

I agree with Sonia who posts above me. My take: I love Julian of Norwich. If I want to take a book with me on a trip, I at least make sure I have Julian on my Kindle app, if not my book from the semester long course I spent with her. But in memory of those who were taken from us in the bombings in Brussels and to stand in solidarity with everyone, everywhere who speaks out against evil, I have to go with Dietrich today.

I never used to look forward to Lent until Lent Madness. Add my thanks to the SEC, CB’s, behind the scenes folk, and especially to the Commenters. The experience is very much enhanced by reading the comments! I hope we all have the courage to persue DB’s kind of peace and the confidence to know that AWBW! Happy Easter! See you next Lent.

I was quite surprised when Sojourner did not prevail over Dieter. I expected her to win the golden halo. Surprise is a good thing.
I have had some discussions where people made assertions, mainly based on the premise that God knows what’s going to happen ahead of time. No, we can’t really say that. After all, just because I have the ability to turn a card over while playing solitaire and see what that card is, that does not mean I will choose to do so. I think we know God has the ability to see the future, so obviously She will see the future; but can’t God choose to do what I choose to do, that is, choose NOT to know what is coming? I think if we insist God knows the future, we are limiting Her. Yes, in the end all things shall be well, but not because of any special action of God; no, with all creation, God has bet the rent that all things shall be well.

Oliver, I agree with you. I see this choice as one between this world and all he created universe. I admire and revere Bonhoeffer for his wisdom and courage. He is a true saint for the 20th century. Yet in the end I have to vote for the Lady who saw that “all will be well.”

Dietrich for the win, today and every day. Julian is a saint for another era. We are living in times that call for the courageous witness to stand against demagogues and tyrants and proclaim the Gispel’s loving embrace of Jesus, the Christ. To do otherwise is a waste of a good vote.

This Lutheran Chick casts her vote for Bonhoeffer, but Sojo has won a special place in my heart.

Thanks to all the behind-the-scenes folks for making my first taste of LentMadness such a great ride. This has been fun way to learn about the Saints who have trod before us. Looking forward to the Madness in 2017!

And thanks, Oliver, for your wisdom beyond your years. I would sort through the comments just to read your post.

I often taught elementary school in a bit of this, a dab of that kind of methodology. Seems I practice my Christianity with a bit of this and a dab of that theology. Thanks SEC for broadening my practice with more knowledge of various saints to add to my practice. I have admired both Bonhoeffer and Julian as witnesses to aspire to, and will continue to do so. Though I chose only one to vote for, I will be very happy with whichever wins the golden halo, as they both already shine brightly as saints of the Church.

I voted for Bonhoeffer, since he seems like exactly the saint for our times. His strong and principled stand for the Gospel of Christ even at the cost of his life is a witness, challenge and encouragement for all of us both in the US and elsewhere who find ourselves surrounded by angry demagogues (some of them pretending to be Christian or to defend “Christian civilization” as in Bonhoeffer’s own time) and their calls to fascism, racism, xenophobia, religious hatred and violence. Blessed Dietrich, pray for us!

Well, I voted for Julian, and I’m content with that. However, the more I consider Bonhoeffer, and what this week is about, I see many parallels– choosing to return to a place of certain death; recognizing that peace is not obtained safely; staying true to principles that resulted in the inevitable, ignominious death. Both Julian and Dietrich chose to sacrifice “the safe life” on behalf of others.

Many thanks to all those who have made this journey so interesting, enjoyable and educational. I went with Dietrich, as I see many others did, particularly in light of the present evil that demands our action. Although I am cheered by the AWBW of Julian, it is Dietrich’s action that I feel is needed in the world today. Sometimes we Christians are so heavenly minded that we end up no earthly good. (A quote from someone, I forget who!).

Many thanks to the SEC, bloggers, and all the people who make this happen. Thank you to all the community of commenters also. I’ll miss the daily give and take. I feel like I did years ago on the last day of summer camp. A blessed Easter to everyone. Looking forward to reuniting next year.

Today we encounter submission to God of such blinding purity that it pains us to look on it. Harder still, we are driven by the Madness to choose between two of its purest expressions, so outwardly different that we might be forgiven for failing to see them as one. Neither Julian nor Dietrich, I suspect, would have had any such difficulty.

Maybe we are drawn to favor Dietrich because of Julian’s remoteness in time and culture, and because much of his life so resembles what we know of the life of Christ. When I began to write this I intended to vote for him for reasons many have already mentioned: the immediacy of his example, our deep need of such examples, and its heightened relevance to this particular moment.

I found, though, that I just couldn’t pull the lever and am about to vote for Julian for the same reasons I gave in earlier rounds: “She saw through to the heart of the relationship between God and creation and found words to describe it to us to whom it would otherwise remain opaque, so that we might share her faith though we lack her vision. . . . Without her witness the Church, and especially the Anglican corner of it, would be spiritually depleted without ever recognizing its own impoverishment.” After all, we have Julian’s own assurance that, if my vote is a mistake, God will not merely forgive it but will put it right.

Oh how sweet! Athena, the goddess of wisdom, is an owl. That is a high honor. I had thought that post was occupied by Hedwig, the beautiful white owl of Harry Potter fame. (But I think maybe she got killed in book 6.) You da man. I accept.

But I find this forces me into a rather embarrassing personal confession: I am NOT A REAL SAINT. Only (as Nietzsche put it) “human, all too human.” Just stumbling along with the rest of you toward Canterbury . . . for the great company and the free drinks . . .

A question for the SEC – I’m wondering how many Golden Halo winners reached the finals the day before the Golden Halo vote, and how many made that step in the bracket two days before the final vote? i.e. does that last member of the Faithful Four to reach the finals enjoy a momentum advantage over the first? No suggestion for a change in format – I’m just curious if my suspicion is accurate.

I add my thanks to the SEC, the Celebrity Bloggers, the “behind the scenes” folks and to my companions in the way. Lent Madness has been an outstanding Lenten devotion program. Fun and participatory, but executed with a noble dual purpose to educate and motivate – a terrific success for me personally – thanks be to God!

I honestly thought I’d vote for Julian, but I didn’t. After I considered the world as it is with Christians being martyred by ISIS, I realized (as many of you said) that DB’s courage, the way he lived out his faith, are an encouragement to me. They are also an indictment; I don’t think I’d ever have his courage. All in all, it was a tough choice, but DB got my vote.
Thanks to the SEC and everyone involved in LM. You do an amazing job.
And to everyone, have a blessed Holy Week and a joyous Resurrection Day. See you all next year.

You have all articulated my thoughts, feelings & gratitude: for everyone who made my second year of LM even more amazing than the first. I feel so lost at the prospect of a tomorrow without our SEC, CBs, & you who comment daily—& therefore have become “real” to me, even though I’ve never met you, etc. My voting usually puts me in the minority; in fact, St. Celia is the voter/commenter whose choices invariably are mine own & whose sage & spiritually insightful remarks add to the joy of the morning. Today is the first voting decision in which I’ve not “voted first; read comments after”; it was too difficult, too painful. Thanks to the writers who admitted tears today; I felt less alone for your revealing that. I will miss you all more than you will ever know. Now, I must decide between Julian & Dietrich, a far more difficult choice than any heretofore. To all of you out there & to the superb CBs, SEC, et al, thank you for everything. Thanks to all of you wonderful people writing each day; you’ve formed a community of like-minded souls. Thank you.

Julian made it to the final round back in 2010 but lost to George Herbert and now it looks like she’s going to lose to a man again. Bonhoeffer is amazing, but I think Julian should get a consolation prize for coming in second place, twice (!).
I applaud the SEC for giving St. Brigid the “silver halo” last year and making the St. Brigid pint glass. That was brilliant! Any ideas for a Julian of Norwich mug alternative? I was thinking a Julian of Norwich hazelnutcracker…

This years was so hard, everyone who was in the running this year all impacted severely on our lives to day. I both loved Bonhoeffer and Julian of Norwich, I loved how Julian thought of small things, being also very big, and I loved how Bonhoeffer cared so much for Christian community and every other religion. But my vote for the golden halo this year was……. Bonhoeffer!!!!! There are so many ways why I would of voted for Julian, but the reason that drove to to voting for Bonhoeffer was that he risked his life for all those people who wanted to keep there faith in there own religion. An I also loved how he was a spy for both sides. Thank you for making this years lent madness so fun.

Thanks for being part of this community, Sarah – 15 years old. I have looked forward to seeing your comments and knowing that you’re “out there” wrestling with these decisions each day with the rest of us. As you go about your year, know that we are “out there” as well, and that you have a special place in this wacky, wonderfully wise and wishful fellowship. You will be in my prayers!

I am voting after a full day of living into my new vocation as a deacon. The life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer inspires me in my work. Yet, I find that I can’t help but vote for Julian of Norwich. A life of prayer and a clear vision of God’s love and grace encompassing all of creation seems to me a very necessary foundation for any attempt to live into God’s kingdom.

Although we’ve been doing this for years, it seems that the lessons at tonite’s Tenebrae service hit home so much more deeply than in the past. At least a dozen years ago, our former rector instituted the change from the traditional lessons to readings from Bonhoeffer’s Life Together, MLK, Jr’s Letter from the Birmingham Jail, and from the sermons of Abp Oscar Romero. (That rector is now the Bp of NH… thanks, Rob!)

My introduction to the Lady Julian came with my introduction to the Episcopal Church 30+ years ago, and she has rescued me more than once with her promise that all shall be well. But my vote goes to Dietrich, for all the reasons cited by so many of you today. He is the saint we need in these times; may we aspire to his courage, just as we find hope in the words of Julian.

Agree with you, Lucy. The match-ups have given us a lot of food for thought as we consider the virtues of all of these worthy saints.
I really want both of the finalists for the Golden Halo to split the honor this year!

I voted for Dietrich Bonhoeffer in memory of my Dad, Ronald Francis Soviero. He began studying his writings in the last years of his life and they made a significant impact on him and his approach to life, people and how he lived each day. I miss Dad dearly and see him smiling in heaven knowing how much I have grown in my faith from Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s writings and example!

I’m already suffering from Lent Madness Withdrawal Syndrome. May we please have Easter, Ordinary, Advent, Christmas and more Ordinary Madness…. I don’t think I can wait another year. It has been a blessing to spend this Lent with all of you. Thank you. Joy and Alleluia to all of you and prayers for peace all over the world.

After an entire day of dithering, I will go with Bonhoeffer. His example is most timely in light of recent events. A difficult choice to be sure as Julian’s prayers are always on my lips and I always seek to emulate her faith. I’d love to see a gold and silver halo awarded. (hint, hint)

Thanks SEC and CBs and everyone else who has a hand in my all-time favorite Lenten devotion!

Bonhoeffer. His words, his actions during WW2, and his courage which I think is needed for today. Thank you, Beth for today’s quote. I agree with Brenda McH that there are parallels between his story and what this week is about. I also vote for the beer stein. All will be well.

Thank you to the entire team at Lent Madness and to all my fellow participants and voters for another fun-filled faith walk through Lent. I always learn so much, and I thank God for you and all His Saints. I eagerly await the results of the election. Have a Blessed Easter.

Thank you SEC for giving Bonhoeffer a second chance in LM! It appears this is his year. As we prepare for the Great Easter Feast, this quote from DB’s book Life Together, says much to the LM community. “As the members of the congregation are united in body and blood at the table of the Lord so will they be together in eternity.”

It’s 7:25 am EST; the closing bell will soon ring. Bonhoeffer has a lead insurmountable at this late minute. Now if my memory serves me correctly, Julian got this far once before only to be knocked out in the last round. As my college history professor said, “Twice makes a custom.” Is Julian destined to be always a bridesmaid and never the bride?

Another part of my lenten journey is reading the Plough site everyday. This tiny bit is from yesterday’s. After reading the following bio on Clarence Jordan I’d like to elect him to run in next years Lent Madness.
“A weekly special from Plough for Easter: stories of costly discipleship from our new book Bearing Witness.
This week:
Clarence Jordan
Persecuted from 1943 to 1957, in Georgia, United States
A cotton field in Georgia.
By 1952 the Koinonia Farm, a rural, interracial Christian community co-founded by Clarence Jordan, was supporting forty-one people, twenty-two of them children. In 1954, the desegregation of schools caused profound turmoil in the South, heightening already simmering racial tensions and bringing overt persecution from white groups toward the little community, starting with threatening phone calls and letters.”
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE AT LENT MADNESS FOR ANOTHER FUN, INFORMATIVE, WILD EXCITING RIDE THRU LENT!!!!!

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